annie’s nannies

As a nanny your reputation is EXTREMELY important and online posts and images live forever. Annie’s Nannies (and our families) often turn down candidates for placement when a Google or Facebook search reveals behavior unbecoming to the nanny profession. It’s okay to have a personal life, but be VERY careful what you choose to show the world!

Amanda has been with Annie’s Nannies since 2012 and has fast become one of our families’ favourites! She is known for her sweet nature and her extensive knowledge of infant and newborn care. Her full-time family ADORED her and were sad to see her go. A recent on call family said:

“Oh gosh, it could not have been easier, or gone any better! What a lifesaver! I was so relieved to get that day covered as (of course) it was a rare occasion where I could not call in sick, and with such short notice, wow! Amanda was warm, kind, prompt and very thoughtful. She sent us photos throughout the day and updated us on how Ben was doing. Both my husband and myself felt very comfortable with her and would certainly recommend her to any other family in need!”

We asked Amanda to tell us something funny that a child said to her recently, she said: “I remember a 3 year old little boy saying to me recently “you talk too much” when we were playing with his toys, it totally cracked me up! Something cute that a 5 year old little girl said to me was “I like your shiny headband, you look like a princess!” too cute!”

Thank-you Amanda for being a wonderful Nanny to the Annie’s Nannies community! We are so glad to have you!

Most nannies out there have been in this situation…..the friend request from an employer. What to do?

Combining a personal social media tool with your professional life is not always the wisest decision, but there’s the chance that feelings will be hurt if you refuse. Sources online are unanimous in saying that accepting a friend request from your boss is not a good idea. They suggest the safe alternative is to send a message saying “Hi Boss, I prefer to keep my Facebook for my personal life. Would you like to connect on Linked In?”

If you do want to accept the request, see here for guidelines to making your Facebook and online presence “Boss Friendly.”

The line between professional and private life has been blurred with the introduction (and mass-usage) of Social Media sites such as Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Sharing information has become the norm, but when the topic is your family and children, where should you draw the line?

A quick search of #nannying on Twitter brings up lots of photos of nannies with children. Worryingly, many have identifying information about the location and even the names and schools of the children. Others state the family’s location, have photos of their house, the nanny’s wage, and descriptions of their brand new home theatre system! These details could be putting your children in danger, not to mention making your house a target for burglars! Most nannies are not being malicious or doing anything intentionally, most of us frankly just don’t think about how social media can pose problems.

So what do you do about it? Setting the boundaries early prevents any miscommunication. Companies have Social Media agreements, and so can families! A blanket ban is the solution for many families, but there are other options. If you are okay with your nanny posting online, have them agree (at the minimum) to locking down their profile, turning off location services, refrain from posting where they are located and to avoid using the children’s full names.

With school starting up again, there are a few simple yet significant tips to help ease children out of summer mode and into school mode.Whether they are starting school for the first time or returning, these suggestions will enable parents, teachers, and caregivers to have an easier transition. Read more »

Our first 30th anniversary celebration was last week! We held our annual summer picnic, but took it up a notch with catering from Chipolte, a performance by Goofy Gideon the Magician, personalized cupcakes from Cupcake Royal, and prize bags. We had a wonderful time getting to chat with nannies, their charges, and some special guests(and the Seattle weather cooperated!) Thank you to all who attended!Photos by Denise Danzer-copyrighted 2014

We often hear complaints from nannies or families about banking hours. Usually we hear from the nanny or family after the hours have been banked and the phone call is never a positive one. Breedlove & Associates tackles this topic in their most recent Legal Review.

The Lawson family wanted to take an impromptu vacation after Mr. Lawson received a promotion. The family scrambled plans together and organized a five day reprieve from work and responsibility. The best part of the trip for Mr. and Mrs. Lawson would be the opportunity to take their first vacation with their two-year-old son who was usually supervised during the day by the family’s nanny.Read more »

We are so excited to announce our first summer Nanny of the Month (June) for 2014….Nicole Hill!

Nicole has been active in our On-Call pool since the beginning of 2012 and has also been placed in numerous part-time positions. One family Nicole has worked consistently with says, “Nicole is absolutely wonderful. She has such a positive personality and attitude about everything. The kids absolutely enjoy her and can’t wait until she returns. We feel very lucky to have Nicole in our lives.” Read more »

Often previous college credits can be transferred toward a certificate or degree – Contact Stephanie Sloan stephanie.sloan@bellevuecollege.edu for an advising appointment, and possible advising by email.

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From the Blog

We first met Shoshana in September last year, though she had been working as a nanny in Seattle for over 10 years. Boy, were we excited when she walked through our door! Growing up as the second eldest of ten children, working with kids has been part and parcel of Shoshana’s whole life. Part of…

We want to congratulate Jackie Ralston on being voted Annie’s Nannies 2014 Nanny of the Year! Jackie joined ANI last summer, and quickly became one of our most requested temp nannies. She was awarded Nanny of the Month in October. In addition to being a fabulous nanny, Jackie also has a parent-coaching business where she…

As an update to our December 9th post, here is the final ruling and most current information from Breedlove & Associates regarding helping your nanny with her health insurance. Affordable Care Act: As a result of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), most individuals are required to have health insurance or face a…

Around the holidays, we often receive questions about tips/bonuses for nannies. We hope these answers will provide you with some good tips and insight. Is there a general practice for Christmas tips/bonuses for nannies in the Seattle area?” There is no hard and fast rule when it comes to giving your nanny a bonus at…

There is LOTS of conflicting information out there at the moment regarding the way that nanny health insurance can be handled with the changes brought by the Affordable Care Act. We are keeping in close contact with Breedlove & Associates to figure out how to advise our clients and nannies. Unfortunately, as of today we…

ANI is pleased to announce our November Nanny of the Month…. Lynne Sandilands! Lynne is one of our permanent nannies and has been with an ANI family since February of this year. With over 11 years as a household manager and an additional 5 of nanny and au pair experience, there is not much that…